Chris Browne has practised as a litigation lawyer for more than 25 years.   He holds the degrees of BA and LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland.

Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand in 1980 (and in Victoria, Australia in 1986), he was a Crown Counsel in the Crown Law Office in Wellington before joining Russell McVeagh in Auckland in 1987. He was a litigation partner of Russell McVeagh from 1989 until 2002 when he left to found Wilson Harle.

Chris has a broadly-based commercial litigation practice extending from contract, corporate governance and shareholding disputes to insurance, professional and product liability, asset recovery, and regulatory issues. He has been counsel in many reported decisions of the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court of which the following are some significant examples:

• Diagnostic Medlab Ltd v Auckland District Health Board [2007] 2 NZLR 832, [2008] NZCA 385, [2009] NZSC 20 - a decision of the Court of Appeal (leave to appeal dismissed) dealing with standards of review of commercial decisions by Crown entities, the statutory powers and obligations of DHBs, conflicts of interest, inside information, consultation obligations and unreasonableness.
• Skycity Auckland Ltd v Gambling Commission [2007] NZCA 407 a decision of the Court of Appeal on the construction of key provisions of the Gambling Act 2003.
• Young v Hemmes [2006] 2 NZLR 1 a decision of the Supreme Court concerning construction of provisions of the Adoption Act 1950 and the Status of Children Act 1969.
• NZ Kiwifruit Marketing Board v Beaumont [1997] 3 NZLR 577 a decision of the Court of Appeal as to the statutory powers of the Board to trade in foreign-grown kiwifruit.
• Commissioner of Police v Ombudsman [1988] 1 NZLR 385 CA the leading decision in New Zealand on the application of the Official Information Act 1981.
• Millar v MOT [1986] 1 NZLR 660 CA the leading decision in New Zealand on the categorization of criminal offences and the burden of proof in regulatory offences.

He listed as a Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution in the Asia Pacific Legal 500.

chris.browne@wilsonharle.com

Allison is a specialist commercial litigator who was admitted to the bar in 1992. Since then she has acted for and provided strategic advice to clients on a wide range of issues and disputes. She has appeared as counsel in the courts at all levels as well as in mediations and arbitrations.

Allison's experience includes acting for and advising clients in respect of breach of contract, negligence, insurance, construction, shareholder disputes, media, Fair Trading Act and Commerce Act issues, public law and regulatory matters.

Examples of Allison's recent work include:

• Acting for Vodafone New Zealand Limited in relation to a range of legal issues, including:
  • An appeal from a Commerce Commission determination on the Telecommunications Service Obligation.
  • Judicial review of the Commerce Commission's determination of mobile termination rates.
  • Injunction proceedings to protect Vodafone's confidential information from disclosure.
• Acted for the owner of a television network to obtain an injunction to protect its copyright in broadcasts of the Rugby World Cup 2007.
• Acted for Vector Limited in defending a claim for damages arising from a failed joint venture.
• Acted for the owner of the New Zealand Herald in defending claims brought under the Defamation Act.

allison.ferguson@wilsonharle.com

Ian Denton is a commercial litigation lawyer.   He holds the degrees of BCom/LLB (Hons) and a Mjur (Dist) from the University of Auckland.  

Ian provides advice and assistance to clients in relation to a wide range of commercial issues including anti-trust and regulatory matters, contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, professional and product liability and insurance and risk management. 

Ian has particular interest and experience in issues arising in anti-trust, competition and trade practices law.  He regularly acts in proceedings and investigations in all areas of the Commerce Commission's jurisdiction including cartels, misuse of market power, restrictive trade practices and other breaches of the Commerce Act 1986.  He also acted in investigations and proceedings concerning misleading conduct under the Fair Trading Act 1986, fees and charges under the Consumer Credit Contracts and Finance Act 2003.  Ian also provides compliance assistance in respect of those areas. 

Ian also has experience in representing clients in connection with investigations and proceedings by the Securities Commission, Serious Fraud Office and Companies Office. 

Ian has appeared as counsel in proceedings in the District Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and in the Privy Council and is experienced in the mediation and arbitration of disputes.

Examples of Ian's recent work include:

• Acted in a number of proceedings brought by the Commerce Commission including price fixing allegations in the timber preservatives market (and in associated criminal proceedings).
• Acted for several individuals investigated and prosecuted by the Commerce Commission for breaches of the Fair Trading Act 1986 by Carter Holt Harvey.
• Represented several finance companies who were the subject of the Commerce Commission's investigations in respect of establishment fees under the CCCFA and associated legislation.
• Represented a finance company in first successful defence of proceedings brought by the Commerce Commission in relation to pre-payment fees and associated representations.
• Advised on and obtained clearance from the Commerce Commission for business acquisitions.
• Acted for an individual against whom the Securities Commission brought insider trading proceedings in relation to the sale of Tranz Rail NZ Ltd shares.

ian.denton@wilsonharle.com

Gary Hughes has extensive experience in commercial regulatory issues, including competition law and trade practices, financial services regulation, fraud & anti-money laundering, and the economic regulation of markets.  He helps clients resolve regulatory problems from both enforcement/litigation and compliance/advisory perspectives.

Gary has handled contract, commercial, and regulatory disputes across a wide range of industries, such as energy (electricity/gas), insurance, banking, food/FMCG, building & construction, retail, media and healthcare.  He has particular expertise in all commercial and litigious aspects of Commerce Commission work (merger control, restrictive trade practices, cartels, price control and fair trading). 

Competition, trade practices & antitrust

• Defending multi-national companies in various price-fixing cartel investigations/litigation in airline, healthcare, and electricity switchgear markets
• Representing Vector in the Commerce Commission's gas pipeline price control inquiry, and subsequent judicial review (with Dr Jim Farmer QC)
• Acting for applicant firms, or other market participants, in contested merger clearance applications in the poultry, duty-free goods, building products, and diagnostic healthcare industries
• Advising on joint ventures, contractual structures, market access, pricing, resale and distribution channel initiatives raising Commerce Act or Fair Trading Act issues
• Obtaining authorisation of a restrictive trade practice for the Pohokura Gas JV (with Dr Mark Berry).

Insurance, financial services, fraud & AML

• Advising offshore banks and domestic financial institutions on Anti-Money Laundering law reform.
• Acting for Lloyd's of London syndicates and overseas insurers in major liability insurance claims, including advice on policy indemnity, fraud, material non-disclosure, and industry regulation issues
• Defending a global bank in claims of deceit & conspiracy to advantage one customer over another
• Prosecuting financial derivatives fraud & market manipulation cases for the London Metals Exchange arising from the 'Hamanaka' copper market rogue trading affair.

Marketing, advertising, media, events management and general commercial

• Advising global FMCG firms (e.g. Procter & Gamble), major retail chains, media firms (e.g. APN) and corporate sponsors on Advertising Standards Authority, Fair Trading & consumer protection laws, privacy, product liability, marketing and commercial issues with promotions and events

• Representing New Zealand Football in all Major Events Management Act, sports, commercial and marketing aspects of hosting the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2008
• Advising a leading food manufacturer on FSANZ/NZFSA regulatory investigations.

Gary joined Wilson Harle from Chapman Tripp, where he specialised in competition law and regulatory work. Prior to that, Gary spent 4 years in London, primarily handling financial services and insurance disputes.  

Qualifications: BCom(Economics), LLB(Honours), University of Auckland (Senior Prizes awarded in each).  Admitted: 1996, New Zealand; 2000, England & Wales.
Professional activity: Vice-President of the Law & Economics Association of New Zealand (LEANZ); NZ Executive Committee of ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists).

gary.hughes@wilsonharle.com

Rachel Sussock is a civil and commercial litigator with a broad range of experience

Rachel was admitted to the bar in 1991. She joined Wilson Harle after a period at home raising children. Prior to that, Rachel was a Crown Counsel in the Crown Law Office in Wellington where she was employed for 8½ years.

Rachel has appeared as counsel in the High Court and Court of Appeal in both large and small cases concerning issues arising in public law, commercial law, company law, regulatory law and the law of negligence. She has also appeared before the Complaints Review Tribunal in Privacy Act proceedings.

As well as conducting litigation, Rachel has also provided advice as to how the law should be interpreted in a variety of areas, including health related issues (particularly in relation to the cervical cancer inquiry and tobacco) and interpretation of the Commerce and Fair Trading Acts.

rachel.sussock@wilsonharle.com

Nic has acted for and provided strategic advice to clients on a wide range of commercial issues and disputes. He has significant experience of representing clients in various courts and tribunals, often in long and complex cases.

Nic joined Wilson Harle in 2010. Before joining Wilson Harle he was a barrister at Tanfield Chambers in London for 9 years. Tanfield Chambers is one of the largest sets of Chambers in the UK. Nic worked primarily in the fields of Business & Commercial Law (including International Dispute Resolution), and Employment Law. Before that, Nic worked for the Treasury Solicitor in London. He dealt with cases that involved matters of political sensitivity, public interest and legal importance.

Nic has extensive experience in commercial work (advisory and advocacy) including: contractual disputes; tort and fiduciary duty claims; restrictive covenants; partnership disputes; emergency injunctions to restrain breaches of contract; freezing orders (Mareva injunctions); and (the termination of) international distribution agreements.

Nic has advised and represented a range of clients. He includes in his experience work (advisory and advocacy) for government departments, large private companies, publicly-listed companies, insurers, the NHS (the UK's publicly-funded health service), banks, building societies, local authorities, sports agencies, football clubs, and international manufacturers and retailers.

Nic is a CEDR ("the leading international commercial mediation organisation") accredited mediator. He was nominated as the 2009 UK lawyer of the year at the Bar Pro Bono Awards 2009 in respect of his mediation work.

Nic is a member of the NZ Law Society Commercial & Business Law Committee.

Nic remains an associate member of Tanfield Chambers and a member of its International Dispute Resolution group.  Tanfield Chambers’s International Dispute Resolution group offers specialist advocacy and legal advice in the following areas:  International Commercial Arbitration; Investment Arbitration; Energy Charter Treaty Arbitration; WTO Arbitration; Construction & Engineering; Energy & Natural Resources; Oil & Gas; Mining; IT & IP; Shipping; Law of the Sea; and International Trade, Trade Finance, and Commodities.  Its members have conduct international commercial and investment arbitrations in Europe, Russia, North America, Central America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia and members of the group have appeared in high profile cases in the English, Scottish, Singapore, New York, Cayman Islands and New Zealand Courts.

Qualifications: BSc Hons (Bristol), Dip Law (City), Barrister (UK, 2001), Mediator (CEDR), Barrister and Solicitor (NZ, 2010).

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nic.scampion@wilsonharle.com

Kerryn Webster joined Wilson Harle in 2005, shortly before being admitted to the bar. She graduated from Otago University with an LLB and a Bachelor of Arts in December 2004.

Kerryn has had a broad range of litigation experience. She has appeared as counsel in the High Court and District Court and has appeared as junior counsel in those courts and the Court of Appeal. She has assisted clients in disputes relating to commercial and contractual issues, banking law, confidential information, public law, competition law and intellectual property. Her experience includes assisting with maritime law disputes and defending prosecutions brought in the criminal summary jurisdiction. She has also had experience in litigation brought in the Cook Islands and Fiji.

kerryn.webster@wilsonharle.com

Felicity holds a LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland. She was admitted to the bar in 2007 and has been with Wilson Harle since then. Alongside her work, she is currently studying towards an LLM at the University of Auckland.

Felicity is a civil and commercial litigator. She has assisted clients involved in disputes relating to contractual claims, debt recovery, telecommunications, shipping and admiralty claims. She has appeared as counsel in the District Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

As well as conducting litigation, Felicity has also undertaken detailed research and provided in-depth advice in the areas of insurance law, public law, commercial law, maritime and admiralty law, and regulatory and competition law. She has had particular focus on the interpretation and application of the Telecommunications, Commerce and Fair Trading Acts.

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felicity.monteiro@wilsonharle.com

Kate has a LLB(Hons) and a BA(Hons) from the University of Auckland.

After graduating, Kate spent two years as a Judges' Clerk at the High Court in Auckland, where she worked on a wide range of civil and criminal issues. She joined Wilson Harle in 2009, practising as a commercial and civil litigator. Kate has appeared as counsel and junior counsel in the High Court in relation to contractual disputes, debt recovery, property law and tort matters. She also regularly advises clients on public and regulatory law issues.

kate.morrison@wilsonharle.com

Janna recently joined Wilson Harle after completing her LLM as a Grotius Fellow at the University of Michigan, specialising in competition law, contract and jurisprudence.  She is a graduate of the University of Canterbury (2008, BA/LLB (Hons)).

Prior to joining Wilson Harle, Janna worked at a large New Zealand law firm and, before that, was Judge’s Clerk to the Rt Hon Justice Andrew Tipping of the Supreme Court. 

Janna has interests in contractual issues, tort law, competition and trade practices and trust law.  Her experience includes assisting clients in commercial and contractual disputes and advising companies on their interactions with regulatory bodies, in particular, the Commerce Commission.

janna.mcguigan@wilsonharle.com

Sarah has a BA from Victoria University of Wellington and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland.  Between her two degrees she worked in a variety of roles in Italy, London and India.  During her university years Sarah summer clerked at Chapman Tripp and completed a summer research scholarship.

Sarah joined Wilson Harle as a law clerk in March 2011 and was admitted to the bar in October 2011.  In her short time at Wilson Harle, Sarah has assisted in a variety of legal areas, including public, criminal, debt recovery, insurance and maritime law.

Sarah tutors first year law at the University of Auckland and is involved in a number of community organisations including ESOL, Refugee Services and the Asia: NZ Foundation.

sarah.lawrence@wilsonharle.com

Guy holds a LLB(Hons) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canterbury.

Guy joined Wilson Harle as a summer clerk over the 2009-2010 summer before returning as a law clerk in May 2011. He was admitted to the bar in December 2011.

Since joining Wilson Harle, Guy has been involved in a broad range of matters, including assisting clients in disputes relating to competition, defamation, insurance, tort liability, contract and criminal law. Guy is particularly interested in both competition law and media law.

In his spare time, Guy is an avid photographer and skier, having previously worked in the ski industry and spent his summers chasing winter.

guy.tompkins@wilsonharle.com